Voting-machine.



Patented June 13, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wi/ime/awo awe (Mu 'rn: Noam: PETERS P. KEIPER. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION PILED'JULY 19, 1899.

995,351, I Patented June 13, I911.

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VOTING MACHINE. V APPLIOATION 11.21) JULY 19, 1899.

Patented June 13, 1911.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

1H: NORRIS PETERS ca., wAsmNcroN, n. c.

F. KEIPER.

VOTING MACHINE.

AAAAAAAAA 0N FILED JULY 19, 1899 995,351, Patented June 13, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNTTET) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK KEIPER, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO EMPIRE VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK KEIPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at J amestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to voting machines, and has more especially for its object the improvement of the interlocking mechanism thereof, to increase its strength and flexibility, and make it more simple.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a cross section of the machine, showing the interlocking mechanism of a single ofiice line. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of keys and the interlocking wedges therefor. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4C in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of the turn buckle which connects the lowest interlocking block of each channel to its piston. Fig. 6 is a view of the straight ticket keyboard, showing the voting mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail of the same. Fig. 8 is a view showing part of a key and the star wheel and of a counter operated thereby.

In the several figures like reference numerals refer to like parts.

The machine 40 is provided with a keyboard 41 on which are mounted voting keys 11, movable at right angles to the keyboard. One of these keys is used for each candidate, and for each side of each question to be voted on. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, these keys are arranged in pairs, the odd numbered keys of each column being offset to the left, and the even numbered keys being offset to the right. Each key in its offset portion has an extension extending vertically toward the other key of its pair, this extension being arranged at right angles to the key itself. In each of these extensions is provided a slot. For the first pair of keys at the top of each office line the slot is short. For each pair of keys going down the channel, this slot increases in length an amount equal at least to the combined interlocking displacement of any two of the interlocking wedges. Consequently, the slots in the lowest keys of each office line are considerably longer than the slots in the keys at the top of each office line. In Fig. 1 four pairs of keys are shown in the office line represented thereby, but it will be understood that the keys in each ofiice line will be a greater or less number as may be desired. It will be further understood that there is one key in each office line for each party represented on the machine. Connected to each key 1 is an interlocking wedge 4. This connection is maintained by a pin 20 in the interlocking Wedge engaging with the slot 3 on the respective key. The keys are moved forward and back in the voting and resetting operation, iLIICl with these keys the interlocking wedges move forward and back as well, their movement in this one direction being absolutely controlled thereby. The slotted arrangement between the key and its interlocking wedge permits a limited lateral movement of the interlocking wedge transverse to the movement of the key, while maintaining engagement with its key, so that while the interlocking wedges move forward and back with the key, they are also free to move transversely of the key, whether the key is in motion or at rest. Each of these interlocking wedges 4: has two bevels cut on one side thereof. One of these bevels is cut on the forward'end of the block, and the other bevel midway of the block. The end of the block connected to the key may be cut square or round or any other shape that may be preferred, but the base of the block and the other sides adjacent to the beveled surfaces thereon are cut parallel to each other. The bevels are of the same length and are cut at the same angle with the base of the block, so that when they act as wedges, each bevel or wedge will displace an equal amount.

All of the interlocking wedges on the ma chine are cut to substantially the same size. These interlocking wedges are arranged in the machine in pairs, the wedge connected to the first key being placed upright, that is with its base down, and the wedge connected to its second key is placed inverted, with its base up. In this way the bases of two interlocking wedges are placed together, or as it might be otherwise described, the wedges are placed back to back. In this way the wedges are arranged in pairs, a pair of wedges being contained within the off sets of the two keys to which such wedges belong.

The machine is provided with vertical interlocking channels 6(S in which are carried the interlocking blocks These blocks carry pins c-e thereon, which pins engage with slots 7;", formed in the interlocking channels by which engagement the interlocking blocks are held in position in said interlocking channel, and are permitted a limited vertical movement therein. A pair of these slots cc are provided in the channel for each interlocking block. These slots are staggered and overlap each other, the slots for the blocks at the bottom of the channel being longer than those at the top of the channel, permitting a longer movement in the blocks carried thereby, the slots for the intermediate blocks being also longer in proportion. Each of these interlocking blocks is formed with an interlocking or abutting surface 3131, at which point each inter locking block contacts with its adjacent interlocking block either above or below it. At this point the interlocking blocks rest directly on each other. From this point the interlocking blocks when placed in the channel extend toward the keyboard of the machine with a reduced thickness. As shown in Fig. 1, five of these interlocking blocks are provided in each interlocking channel. The top and bottom interlocking blocks are beveled on one side only, while the intermediate blocks are beveled 011 both sides. The wedges on the interlocking blocks are cut so that when the interlocking blocks are placed together with their abutting interlocking surfaces in contact, a pair of the interlocking wedges will fit therebetween. For this purpose each interlocking block is cut with a pair of beveled surfaces, of the same angle and substantially the same or greater length than the bevels on the interlocking wedges. A. pair of these wedges placed between a pair of the interlocking blocks will be supported thereby and will raise and lower with them. \Vhen a key is exposed in voted position, it will be moved forward and the wedge at attached thereto will press the interlocking blocks apart so that the wedge will enter between the interlocking blocks at their abutting surfaces 3131, and the blocks will be separated by the thickness of the thin part of the interlocking wedge. The two bevels are provided on each interlocking block and each interlocking wedge, so that the interlocking blocks will be driven up or down by the wedge by an impulse communicated to it on both sides of the block thus preventing the interlocking blocks from sticking or binding as they move in the interlocking channels. Furthermore, it will be seen that the interlocking wedges will be at all times carried and moved substantially perpendicular to the interlocking channel and substantially parallel to the interlocking surfaces 3l3l of the interlocking blocks, so that the blocks will at all times be separated by the exact thickness of the small part of the interlocking wedge, and will not be separated by a greater amount than the thickness of the interlockin wedge, which would be the case if the wet assumed an acute angle to the interlocking channel, instead of the right angle, which they will always make therewith when moved between interlocking blocks of this pattern. hen the wedges are voted at either the top or the bottom of the interlocking channels, the parallel bevels on the blocks and on the wedges will cause all the other blocks and wedges to move with substantially a parallel move ment, causing the front and back of the blocks and wedges to be lifted equally, so that all pieces in the channel will maintain the same parallel relation with each other, although any two or more of the blocks may have been separated from each other by the thickness of one or more wedges. hen a wedge has been placed in voted position, it moves all of the interlocking blocks above it or below it or both, and the wedges carried thereby as well. In this way the wedges are moved laterally and as such wedges are moved laterally, the pins 20 carried thereby travel in the slots 3 of the voting keys to another posit-ion, in which the engagei'nent between the wedge and the key is as positive as it was in its initial position, and when a wedge is withdrawn from interlocking position other wedges in such channel will be permitted to move laterally and will be mm'ed positively or by gravity all the while maintaining this same engagement between the interlocking wedge and the key.

As previously pointed out, in each interlocking channel the interlocking blocks rest directly upon each other, and inclose be tween two of the interlocking blocks a space large enough to contain a pair of interlocking wedges when the blocks themselves are in direct abutment. The wedges may be of a size so that a pair of them will exactly fill the opening or be slightly less than the opening. In this way the interlocking blocks when no wedges are in interlocking position will be permitted to rest directly upon each other, so that in the interlocking channel shown in Fig. 1 the interlocking blocks will be in contact with each other at four points only, and the surfaces of these points will be under compression, but none of the interlocking wedges will be under compression at the same time as well. If each wedge were separated from its neighbor by an interlocking block, and all of the interlocking wedges were under compression, eight blocks would be needed and there would be 16 joints under compression, where on the contrary by the r construction shown in Fig. 1, but four joints are under compression, and the elasticity of the members under compression as a whole is decreased in consequence, and the rigidity of it is correspondingly increased. This improvement is aimed to eliminate two classes of errors as heretofore explained. One class is the error that is made when the interlocking wedge makes an acute angle with its interlocking channel and consequently displaces the interlocking blocks by a movement greater than the thickness of the wedge. This error is believed to be completely eliminated by this improvement. The other error is due to a large number of pieces being under compression, the joints of which must necessarily be more or less elastic. By diminishing the number of joints under compression the elasticity of the interlock is correspondingly reduced, and this error is made correspondingly smaller.

So far I have confined myself to describing the features that are necessary for interlocking the keys in a single candidate group, but as the chief value of interlocking lies in its application to multi-candidate groups, I will now describe that feature of my invention.

The bottom block 4 of each channel terminates in a stem 9, which in turn terminates in a piston 10, which plays in a hydraulic cylinder 11. This cylinder may be filled with oil, alcohol or glycerin, or a combination of these or any other liquids, all these liquids being regarded as equivalents. The cylinders 1111 connect with a tube 12 which runs the full length of the machine and connects all the cylinders into one system. Between each two cylinders is a valve 13 which when closed prevents the liquid from flowing from one cylinder to the other. If all the valves in the system are closed the machine will be set for single candidate group voting, but if all the valves are open the whole machine will be set for a single multi-candidate group. The tube will be closed at one end with a cap and at the other end by a valve which together with a pump and reservoir and such other necessary system of tubing may be used to vary the quantity of liquid in the system or replenish what has escaped. Each piston and cylinder must be provided with a packing which will be suction tight against air and pressure tight against liquid. The system is first prepared by opening all the valves and exhausting the air, the joints being placed under water to facilitate obtaining a vacuum. The vacuum may be obtained by any ordinary mercury or water pump. When the vacuum is obtained by exhausting, through the cap end, the liquid may be admitted through the other end and as it rises it will displace substantially all of the atmosphere left. If all the atmosphere be eiiminated the system will be substantially rigid throughout. The system will now be ready to be placed in the machine and each piston will be connected to its appropriate channel block t by a turn buckle or nut 14: (see Fig. 5) with a right and left hand thread or any other suitable device. With all the connections made, a straight ticket may now be voted on any party row of the machine and then by means of the. force pump shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, the fluid can be forced into the system until the pistons force all the channel blocks tight together and against the stop at the top of each channel. Then by closing such valves as may be necessary to establish each group the machine is ready for use. If a straight ticket is voted, no additional keys can be placed in voted position, for to do so one or more pistons must be shoved down, which cannot be done as the liquid behind each piston is practically incompressible.

In Fig. 2 the valves a, Z), and 0, are shown" open and the valve d is shown closed, making a multi-candidate group of 4. If one key is voted in each channel the blocks will be spread, filling each channel and the pistons will not be moved thereby. But if two or more keys are voted in any one channel, the first key will fill the channel with its wedge, the second wedge will move the piston down an amount equal to the displacement of its wedge, the third will move it farther an equal distance, the fourth another equal amount, depressing the piston in all an amount equal to the thickness of three wedges. The liquid displaced from this cylinder will flow into the adjoining cylinders and lift each of these pistons an amount equal to the thickness of one wedge locking each of those three channels and thus the whole system. It will be understood that the liquid displaced by the insertion of each key will always be the same, which result can be readily attained by having the pistons of uniform diameter or if another type of piston is used as is shown in Fig. 2 of Patent No. 562,390 issued to Gould by having the cylinder of uniform diameter. Each piston must be free to move up and close all the blocks together and against the stop at the top of the channel, if forced up by the insertion of a key or keys in other channels and again it must be free to move down from this position a distance equal to the thickness of one wedge for every key inserted in its channel moving down the thickness of 7 or 8 wedges if the size of the group will permit it and even more if the number of keys in the channel are greater if the group is large enough to allow the insertion of all the keys of that channel. By this means a system of the utmost flexibility is obtained, as the system will always be locked by the insertion of the last key of the predetermined number, no matter whether the selected keys are distributed through all the channels or are confined to the fewest possible channels. The greatest degree of ac curacy in interlocking the keys of the largest groups can thus be attained. Furthermore, it is even possible to connect the systems of two or more machines by a tube filled with the liquid and have them all work accurately in one multi-candidate group. To facilitate the transmission of liquid from one cylinder to another, the valve openings should be made as large as possible.

A resetting bar is provided on which there is a cam for each piston 10, which cam engages with a pin carried by the piston and forces it back to position if the piston has been raised. This forcing down the pistons which have been raised will also raise all those pistons which have been forced down so that all the pistons will be brought back to their initial position. This is especially desirable for when a straight ticket is voted by pressing a single button, it is desirable that all the keys of that party should move in with the utmost freedom and by this arrangement they do not have to move the pistons. If the pistons are moved at all they will be moved only in the multi-candidate groups and there only when a ticket is scratched by voting more than one key in each channel.

The locking of the machine to prevent manipulation of either the keys or counters is accomplished as follows: On the end of the machine casing is a door which swings in to unlock the machine for each voter by rocking the shaft at the top of the machine and throwing the universal bar down to the position shown in Fig. 1. Swinging it to the other extreme leaves the universal bar with the outer ends of the cams against the pins holding them against operation and thus locking both keys and counters. A full stroke device is used on the door or gate to make it swing the full distance before reversing. If the door is locked in this last position obviously the machine cannot be tampered with. Instead of or with this I may use the hydraulic device to lock up the machine in which case all the valves in the system will be opened and the pump will then be used to force the liquid in to close all the blocks snug against the top of the channel when no keys can be shoved in anywhere on the keyboard. The valve between the pumps and the cylinders should then be closed and locked in any suitable way.

Fig. 8 shows the type of counter used in connection with the voting keys and is the two-step counter shown in the reissue patent to Hornum No. 9008 and shown more exactly in Figs. 3, 20, and 21 of the patent to Gillespie 628,792.

In Fig. 6 is shown a straight ticket device by which I use a cam bar 30 operated by a lever 31 to move all the keys in that party row to their voted position. This is done by the cam 33 engaging the lug 33 on its voting key. When the voter lets go of the lever 31 the spring 32 retracts it so that the voter can scratch if he desires.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a voting machine, the combination of a pair of keys in a single office group, each of said keys having an offset portion, said keys being similar in shape but oppositely arranged so that the offsets project in different directions, substantially as described.

2. In a voting machine, the combination of paired keys arranged in a row, each of said keys having an offset part, said offsets being similar in shape, but oppositely arranged, and adapted to actuate the interlocking mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a voting machine, a voting key having a straight shank offset near one end thereof, said ofiset being provided with a slotted extension at one end, substantially as described.

4:. In a voting machine, the combination of keys arranged in pairs, each key having an offset part extending transversely to the shank thereof, said offset. parts overlapping each other, substantially as described.

5. In a votingmachine, the combination of keys arranged in pairs, each key having a part extending transversely to the shank thereof, said transverse parts being each provided with a 'slot and said transverse parts and slots overlapping each other respectively, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a voting machine, of keys which are arranged in pairs, each keyhaving a part extending transversely to the shank and provided with a slot, said transverse parts overlapping each other.

7 The combination in a voting machine of keys which are provided with transverse parts, the keys being arranged alternately with the transverse parts overlapping each other.

8. The combination in a voting machine, of keys which are provided with transverse parts, the transverse parts of some of the keys overlapping the transverse parts of other keys.

9. The combination of keys with transverse parts carrying slots, interlocking wedges carrying pins engaging with said slots, the transverse parts of consecutive keys overlapping each other and inclosing the wedges between them.

10. The combination of keys having offsets bearing transverse parts, said transverse parts bearing slots, interlocking wedges carrying pins engaging with said transverse slots, the offset being sufliciently removed from the slot so that the wedge of either key cannot be moved by the other key.

11. The combination in a voting machine of series of containing means with interlocking devices contained therein, said series being connected by liquid means for multicandidate group voting.

12. The combination in a voting machine of-a series of containing means with interlocking devices contained therein, said series being connected by liquid means for multicandidate voting, said liquid means being adapted to transmit all but one of a series of impulses from one channel to the adj oining channels to move the interlocking means in those channels to close them against voting.

13. In an interlocking mechanism of a voting machine, the combination of adjacent channel blocks and wedges, said blocks and wedges being adapted to move with a parallel movement. respectively, substan tially as described.

14. In a voting machine, the combination of interlocking blocks, each having a portion thereof cut away, and interlocking wedges placed back to back and adapted to engage said blocks at their cut away portions.

15. In a voting machine, the combination of interlocking blocks having portions abutting against each other and each having a portion thereof cut away, with interlocking wedges placed back to back and adapted to engage said blocks at their cut away portions.

16. The combination in a voting machine of two channel blocks one side of each of which has an abutting surface, a beveled surface adjacent thereto, a plane surface adjacent to the beveled surface and parallel to the abutting end and a beveled surface adjacent thereto and parallel to the first named beveled surface.

17. In a voting machine, the combination of interlocking blocks and wedges, each wedge having two parallel beveled surfaces and two or more plane surfaces, said wedges being arranged in pairs, back to back, between adjacent interlocking blocks, substantially as described.

18. In a voting machine, the combination of a channel and interlocking blocks and wedges therein, each wedge having a long plane surface, a beveled surface at one end, a short plane surface parallel to the long plane surface, a second beveled surface parallel to the first beveled surface and a second short plane surface parallel to the other plane surfaces, said wedges being arranged in pairs, with their long plane surfaces in contact with each other, between adjacent interlocking blocks, substantially as described.

19. The combination with an interlocking wedge having on one side of it two parallel beveled surfaces, of a block cooperating therewith, said wedge being capable of withdrawal from contact with said block without disturbing the position of the block.

20. In a voting machine, the combination of a multiple group composed of three or more single candidate groups and means whereby the voting of successive keys in one group will move the blocks in adjoining groups one step and no more in each group, substantially as described.

21. In a limiting device of a multi-candidate group, means whereby the channel blocks can move one step in one direction and as many steps minus one in the other direction as there are keys to be inserted in the channel and no more, the one step in the first direction being the only one imparted to the blocks not disturbed by the voting keys.

22. The combination of interlocking means directly in abutment, and displacing means for said interlocking means supported by said interlocking means, substantially as described.

23. The combination in an interlock, of the channel blocks directly in abutment the wedges supported thereby said wedges being provided with pins for sliding engagement with the voting ke s said wedges being capable of being withdrawn from contact with said blocks without disturbing the position of the channel blocks.

24. The combination in an interlocking mechanism with the channel blocks directly in abutment of the wedges supported thereby said wedges being provided with pins in alternate arrangement for sliding engagement with the voting keys in corresponding arrangement, substantially as described.

25. The combination in an interlocking mechanism of the channel blocks and the wedges arranged in pairs and wholly supported by the channel blocks substantially as described.

26. The combination in an interlocking mechanism of the channel blocks directly in abutment and the wedges arranged in pairs and wholly supported by the channel blocks substantially as described.

27. The combination in an interlocking mechanism of the channel blocks the wedges supported thereby said wedges being provided with pins for sliding engagement with the voting keys.

28. In a voting machine, the combination of a group of keys, each having a slot near its inner end, said slots increasing in length in the respective keys from one end of the group to the other, substantially as described.

29. The combination in an interlocking mechanism of channels containing the interlocking blocks directly in abutment with each other of the wedges carried between and wholly supported by the blocks, substantially as described.

30. The combination in an interlocking mechanism of channels containing interlocking blocks directly in abutment with each other of the wedges wholly supported by the blocks substantially as described.

31. The combination in a voting machine of an interlocking mechanism with hydraulic means in connection therewith for taking up all the lost motion that is not necessary for straight ticket voting.

3;. The combination in a voting machine of the limiting mechanism consisting of intOl'lOCklIlg blocks with a single means -for taking up the lost motion from the blocks when a straight ticket has been voted.

88. The combination. in a voting machine of an interlocking mechanism with hydraulic means in connection therewith for taking up all the lost motion when a straight ticket has been voted.

84. In a voting machine the combination of keys and counters of hydraulic means for looking all the keys and counters on the machine against movement.

The combination in a straight ticket voting device of a cam bar with a cam thereon for each key in its party row the movement of said bar moving all the keys to their voted position.

36. In a voting machine, a plurality of series or rows of non-registering and nonlatching push key indicators, interlocking devices for each indicator in the several series, said devices cooperating together but non-effective independent of other means, in combination with a-series of pushes, one for each series of interlocking devices and cooperating therewith, and means controlling said pushes whereby the number of indicators operated by a voter in a given num ber of series collectively may be limited.

37. In a voting machine, a plurality of series or rows of non-registering and non- ]atching push key indicators, interlocking devices for each indicator in the several series, said devices cooperating together but non-effective independent of other means, in combination with a series of pushes, one for each series of interlocking devices and cooperating therewith, and flexible or yielding means controlling said pushes whereby the number of indicators operated by a Voter in a given number of series collectively may be limited.

38. In a device to prevent the simultaneous operation of more than a certain number of keys, the combination with a fluid-tight reservoir having a certain capacity for a fluid, of a series of movable keys cooperating therewith, and connections between said keys and the reservoir whereby a key in one position diminishes the capacity of the reservoir for the fluid as compared with its capacity when the key is in the other position.

39. In a device to prevent the simultaneous operation of more than a certain number of keys, the combination with a fluid-tight reservoir having a certain capacity for a fluid, of a series of movable keys cooperating therewith, connections between said keys and reservoir whereby a key in one position diminishes the capacity said reservoir has when the key is in the other position, and means other than the keys for regulating the capacity of the reservoir.

4-0. In a voting machine, an interlocking nechanism consisting of two sections adapted to communicate and containing like interlocking means and lying in approximately parallel planes, and movable means for shutting cit one of the parallel sections from or opening it to the other, to confine the move ment of the limiting means to one section or permit the limiting means to move in both, as may be desired.

41. In a voting machine, an interlocking mechanism consisting of a plurality of sections lying in approximately parallel planes, the adjacent sections being adapted to communicate and containing like interlocking means, and movable mechanism for shutting ott the connections between the parallel sections or opening said connections, so as to confine the movement of the limiting means to one section or permit the limiting means to move in a plurality of sections, as may be desired.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK KEIPER. lVitnesses Jas. I I. BLAGKWOOD, J. STEPHEN GIUSTA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

